Stack is vice president of administration and development for Beaufort-based Jarrett Bay Boatworks. He joined the Jarrett Bay team in June of 2014 after 16 years at the N.C. State Wolfpack Club, where he was associate executive director responsible for the day-to-day operations of the athletic fundraising organization. At the Wolfpack Club, he was in charge of generating private financial support for athletic scholarships and sports facilities. At Jarrett Bay, Stack applies business fundamentals garnered from his previous role to the operations there.

Stack is a 1992 graduate of the College of Textiles at N.C. State. After graduation, he spent six years in textiles manufacturing at Sara Lee (now Hanesbrands) in Galax, Va., and Greenwood, S.C. Originally from Enochville in Rowan County, Ed lives in Morehead City with his wife, Elizabeth, and two children.

What do you like best about your job?

Actually, three things: The privilege to work with a tremendous group of people, the opportunity to be a part of a company that creates and builds some of the finest boats on the water, and the luxury of not having to do the same thing every single day.

What inspires you?

The sunrise early in the morning coming up over the water, and the sunset late in the day. Both of those events remind me that each day is full of possibilities and that it is up to me to make those possibilities a reality.

Who should we be paying attention to?

Middle school and high school students and the people who teach them. They hold the keys to where we are heading, and if we listen to them, they will tell us what the trends are. What technology they are using, what products they like, how they consume media, what their learning style might be. These should all be items of interest for people in business.

What was your biggest challenge this week?

This biggest challenge this week seems to be a constant. How to effectively address the immediate short-term issues that bubble up daily and still remained focused on the bigger picture. There never seems to be enough hours in the day, so time has to be set aside for both. It is easy to get caught up in the moment, but you have to maintain a longer term mindset, as well.

Favorite N.C. vacation spot?

Carteret County. The Crystal Coast. You would think that living at the coast, you might want to go somewhere else for vacation, but I like to consider each weekend that I am on the boat with my family and amongst our friends as a mini-vacation. We are very fortunate to call Morehead City home, and we try not to take that for granted. Whether we are going to Shackleford, Bird Shoal, or one of the sand bars, offshore fishing, or Atlantic Beach, there is plenty of fun to be had, right in our backyard.